Congratulations! Now your baby will probably begin to stay awake
longer during the day and sleep more at night.
Probably
- but the range of normal is still very wide.
Your baby's sleep phases are much the same as your own:
drowsiness, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, light sleep, deep
sleep, and very deep sleep. Your baby might start sleeping through
the night now - but the definition of "sleeping through the
night" at this age is a stretch of only 5 hours!
How Long Will My Baby Sleep?
Since babies are more alert and aware of their immediate
surroundings during the daylight hours, they're more inclined
to sleep during the night, especially if parents fight the urge to
play or talk to their baby during nighttime
feedings
or
diaper
changes.
Your baby is adapting to the sleep-wake cycle that parents
favor, and the baby's stomach is growing and holding more
breast milk or formula. At 3 months of age your baby will likely
sleep about 15 hours out of each 24-hour period, and two thirds of
that sleep will take place during the night.
Most babies will have settled into a daily sleep routine of two
or three sleep periods during the day, followed by "sleeping
through the night" for 6 to 7 hours after a late-night
feeding.
If your baby is sleeping a lot when you want him or her awake -
or vice versa - encourage wakefulness during the day while also
allowing your baby to have distinct sleeping periods. You also can
rouse your baby for the late-night feeding at a time that suits
your sleep schedule. For instance, if your baby gets sleepy after
the 7 p.m. feeding and sleeps until 2 a.m. before feeding again,
wake the baby to feed at 11 p.m. and then put him or her down to
sleep until an early-morning feeding at 5 or 6 a.m. It may take a
few nights to establish this routine, but it will happen if
you're consistent.
If your baby wakes during the period that you want him or her to
be sleeping, keep activity to a minimum. Change or feed your baby
in the dark, and don't play with the baby. Your little one will
start to get the message that you're a bore during the night,
so he or she might as well just go back to sleep.
Again, not all infants keep to the same timetable. If you have
questions or concerns, check with your doctor.
Where and How Should My Baby Sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that healthy
infants be placed on their backs to sleep, not on their stomachs.
The incidence of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
has decreased by more than 40% since this recommendation was first
made in 1992. It is now also recommended that premature infants
sleep
only
on their backs.
It is thought that some babies sleeping on their stomachs may
have a greater tendency toward sleep obstruction and rebreathing
their own carbon dioxide because they're less likely to rouse
themselves to change head positions. Another possibility is that
they may suffocate on softer bedding if they're lying
face-down.
Once your child is rolling over on his or her own, around 5 to 6
months of age, you no longer need to worry about sleep positioning.
If you have difficulty getting your baby to sleep on his or her
back before this age, though, talk to your doctor.
Always keep sleep safety in mind. Make sure your crib meets
current safety standards. Don't put anything in the crib that
can interfere with your baby's breathing - stuffed animals,
blankets, or soft pillows can fall on a baby's face and become
a problem.
Always keep sleep safety in mind. Do not place anything in the
crib or bassinet that may interfere with your baby's breathing;
this includes plush toys, pillows, and blankets. Although bumper
pads are widely used, their safety has been questioned.
One study from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission found a number of accidental deaths appeared
to be related to the use of bumper pads in cribs and
bassinets. The Canadian Pediatric Society has recommended
against the use of bumper pads since 2004. If you do use bumpers,
it's best to use the kind that secure at the top and
bottom.
Also, avoid items with ties or ribbons that can wrap around a
baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or
corner.
Many cultures endorse
cosleeping
. But studies indicate that there is a greater incidence of SIDS in
households where the infant slept in the bed with the parents. Use
of substances that decrease the parents' awareness, such as
alcohol, also may allow a parent to roll over onto the baby.
Encouraging Sleep
If you haven't already, try establishing a bedtime routine
that will be familiar and relaxing for your baby. Bathing, reading,
and singing can be soothing for parents and babies and signal an
end to the day. Be consistent, and your baby will soon associate
these steps with sleeping.
Remember: if part of your bedtime routine is to rock your baby
for half an hour, then whenever waking during the night your
baby is going to expect and need that step to get back to
sleep. Ideally, your baby should be put into a crib or bassinet
while drowsy but still awake. This way your baby will learn to fall
asleep on his or her own.
Although it may be hard at first, some experts suggest this is
also the age to start letting your baby fuss for a few minutes when
he or she wakes during the night. Your baby may simply be in a
phase of light slumber, even though you think your baby is totally
awake. Some babies squirm, whine, and even cry in their sleep
before putting themselves back to sleep.
Unless you suspect that your baby is hungry or ill, try to see
what happens if you leave your baby alone. It will help you all in
the long run if your baby can develop the skill of going back to
sleep without your help.
When to Call the Doctor
If your baby's sleep habits concern you, speak
with your doctor, who can reassure you or get to the root of a
physical problem that may have no other symptoms besides crankiness
or sleeplessness.
Either way, the doctor can help get you on the right track . . .
the one that leads to more quality sleep for your baby and for
you!
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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